john reid, former chair and c.e.o. of citigroup, then concludes with this: i strongly support your efforts to put the provisions that chairman paul volcker has advocated firmly into law. i believe that the prop trading act and your proposed floor amendment based on that act does so. the legislation provides reasonable exceptions for client-oriented services while including the necessary safeguards to protect against the dangers of high-risk assets and high-risk trading strategies. putting these restrictions firmly into law will be good for our economy and good for our financial services industry even though they may now argue to the contrary. refocusing our financial firms on client services will help them restore the global leadership position that has been seriously undermined by the recent crisismen crisis. certainly," he says, "we need many other reforms, including a strong consumer protection agency, imposing the duty of care to customers on financial providers, and we establishing a well regulated market for deri

the allegation is by the white house and reid is that the senators, these republican senators, john cornyn and mitch mcconnell are out there trying to make things better for the financial industry because the allegation is that they received boat loads of dough. >> absolutely, and they held this fund-raiser last week, the story that we reported. what is happening now is you have a tit for tat, reid is being called to the carpet based on our other story he was at a fund-raiser at guess where, the most nowhere -- notorious name on wall street, goldman sachs, where he raise the significant funds and heard their gripes about financial reform. megyn: everyone, the democrats and the republicans, are taking money from the so-called wall street fat cats as they argue about whether there should be a crackdown on regulation of the wall street cat fats -- fat cats. >> and the democrats have gotten a hell of a lot more money than the republicans have over the past year for a number of reasons. number one, you know, it was a big democratic year in 2008-2009, but more than that, if you look at the heads

harry reid, we can see that. i think john mccain's going hang on.been through tougher battles. obviously personally and professionally. >> going to hang on, bill? >> let me say one more thing. he's got sarah palin. if you're worried about tea party people turning on an incumbent, the fact he's the person who introduced sarah palin will help save him. >> in yarn mccain was ahead 53-31. it makes me want to go to arizona and walk precincts for john mccain. >> bill press, susan molinari. >>> coming up, a stagger 16.5% of african-americans do not have a job. the old white angry tea party thinks president obama does too much for the black community. i'll explain my vision for the black agenda next in the "playbook." so i was the guy who was never going to have the heart attack. i watched what i ate. i worked out. personally, i thought i was invincible. once it happened, i realized it's a different story. i'm on an aspirin regimen now because i never want to feel that helplessness again. [ male announcer ] aspirin is not appropriate for everyone. so be sur

reid is setting up a test to vote. it's a real interesting dynamic. as john was saying, there's been this very partisan dynamic in the senate for so long. they've been saying no to each other for so long, they hardly know how to say yes now. they're very close in the legislation, and in part because the goal of the legislation is one that is so clearly bipartisan. i mean, it all arises out of the financial collapse at the end of 2008. and nobody wants to go back there. so everybody agrees, ok, we need to do something so we don't have another meltdown. and the differences over how to do it are small enough or technical enough -- nobody's going to stand on the floor and say, i'm going to filibuster this to death because this is overseen by one federal agency rather than another. it's just -- >> when you talk senators about it, they say it says should and it should say must. >> right. so they're at this place where republicans are very reluctant to give obama another big legislative victory. make no mistake about it, this would be a really big bill. >> janet, ho

he is referring to the quote that came out at first about what harry reid said in private about barack obama. john heilemann, why did you take that's because i was a first of all in our office that we refer to the notion that we conducted our if you on deep background, and then we say in a shorthand way what that meant, which was as basically howard writes in in the peace. the authors note is not however complete in the sense that it doesn't have a thorough description of all of the conversation we had with our sources, which we had every single source that we talk too. we would talk in great detail about how the interview we are about to conduct would be used in the book and we would go through like a speech up, almost like a speech. there was no scope at the midas will have been where we would lead into this is that enviable go, this is what we can use, this is what catches. i can say that there is no case in which the way that we expand what we're going to do. and in the we didn't live up to that agreement. it is i think it's important that people understand that the background as many of peopl

attempting the white house meeting wednesday we expect harry reid, top republican in the senate mitch mcconnell, nancy pelosi and john boehner. impossible to know whether the meeting will re solve issues or highlight their differences. >> as we look at video from that health care summit february, that did just that it sort of highlighted the differences what is the timing on the passage of the financial reform bill? >> reporter: difficult to predict. administration officials said they are optimistic about passage of a reform bill and they said the measure is picking up momentum without major setbacks they could see passage of the bill by memorial day that is the white house goal. the house passed the bill last year. the senate's timetable is look at the health care debate. we have the midterm elections and nomination of a new supreme court justice. so the timing gets complicated and crammed. >> a lot going on. any middle ground? any areas of agreement between the two parties? >> reporter: like health care reform, a finance reform has become increasingly partisan. the president hopes the meet -- the top lawmakers woul

well, i'm told that john kerry went to majority leader, her reid, and said can you please put off immigration the only way to get lindsey graham to continue his negotiations with us on the energy and climate bill. they wanted to do it first and the immigration after the election and i'm told the majority leader said no, thank you, i'm going to bring immigration reform to the floor in the next couple weeks. they're still working on a piece of negotiation. even those close to harry reid says he does not have 60 votes to bring it forward and many think it's politically motivated because of his troubles back in nevada. you heard the president, the dwhows is on his side. they say they should at least make an effort even if they can't pass it. >> the charge against harry reid, the majority leader, he's trying to get some support from hispanics in nevada which he desperately needs. >> and he desperately needs them in nevada and hmany others need them across the country. the latino support is down eight points since 2008 and 2009. it will affect congressional candidates in nevada, in illinois, many o

john paul stevens leaving. are republicans forming for a fight? o they want a filibuster? >>> harry reid is on track to set a new record, by way. don't miss it. he's going to beat, perhaps another filibuster. est breeze harbors immense power. the tallest buildings leave the lightest footprints. a fifty-ton train makes barely a mark on the environment. and a country facing climate change finds climate solutions. somewhere in america, we've already answered some of the nation's toughest questions. and the over sixty thousand people of siemens are ready to do it again. siemens. answers. so, at national, i go right past the counter... and you get to choose any car in the aisle. choose any car? you cannot be serious! okay. seriously, you choose. go national. go like a pro. >>> senate majority leader harry reid is on track to set the record for having the best batting average when it comes to killing filibusters. since the beginning of the 111th congress reid has won 90% of his efforts to cut off attempted republican filibusters. senator reid will set a new record if he's able to win just one

i'm pleased to have mark udall, senator mark udall, senator john mccain, and senator harry reid, our majority leader, as cosponsors of this bill. dedication of the department of interior's headquarters here in washington will be a small but fitting tribute to stewart udall's legendary accomplishments, many of which took place in that very building. and at this time, i would send that -- a bill to the desk and ask that it be appropriate lid referred. -- appropriately referred. the presiding officer: the bill will be received and appropriately referred. mr. bingaman: i know my colleague, senator mark udall, is here to also speak in support of this legislation. let me defer to him and then i'll ask recognition again on a somewhat separate matter. the presidin mr. udall: does the senator from new mexico yield? mr. bingaman: i do. mr. udall: i thank the senator from new mexico for his courtesy and i rise in support of this legislation. i intend at some later date to spend some additional time on the floor talking about my uncle stewart, who was a wonderful man, an uncle to me but, more th

. >> he's referring to the quote that came out at first about what harry reid said in private about barack obama. john heilemann, why don't you take that. >> well, i would say -- first of all in our authors note we refer to the notion that we conducted our interview on deep background and then we say in a shorthand way what that meant. as basically what howie writes in the piece. the authors note is not, however, complete in the sense it does not have a thorough description of all the conversations we had with our sources which we had with every single source at that we talked to. we would talk in great detail about how the interview we were about to conduct would be used in the book. and we would go through -- there was like a speech -- almost like a sad speech. there was no actual script but there might as well be saying this is how the interview is going to go. this is what we can use and can't use and this is how it's going to work. i can say there's no case in which the -- the way that we explain what we're going to do in the end that we didn't live up to that agreement with any source that we ta

ask you both in closing i'm told senator john kerry who is working on the climate change legislation that is important to you senator cantwell went to leader reidbring up immigration because then we lufz lindsey graham the republican on climate change and not get it done and senator reid said, no, he plans to bring up immigration reform this year. do you want to debate immigration reform this year? will republicans vote to get it to the floor, a bill that includes status for the millions here illegally and also does things on the border? are you prepared to have that debate this year or republicans say no way, mr. leader? >> john, i think republicans and democrats alike have great reservations because of the climate right now. people want to see controlling the border. and right now the violence that's coming across the border, people say, oh, no it's not coming -- it is coming across the border. we see it in our border states. and that is not the right climate. nor has the president nor the members of congress on both sides had the chance to sit down and work on a bill. i was part of the negotiations the last time we tried to pass a comprehens

joe, is majority leader reid, is he rolling the dice here? >> yeah, to some extent, john, he might be. the other thing, this could be just a ploy, it could be giving chris dodd leverage to continue the negotiations and tone to -- and hope to get somewhere. in the end i think we are going to have a bipartisan passage of this thing. whether it happens monday or not is still the question. but i think it could be a ploy or he could just be rolling the dice, and let's get this over with fast, let's get to the supreme court and other things, and let's move. i think he has learned from the health care thing, it's better to move ahead, try to get this thing passed soon, as soon as of having another protracted fight. jon: tucker, voters want bipartisanship, that's what they say in survey after survey, but what kinds of carrots would senator reid be willing to offer republicans to get a vote or two? >> well, apparently, the white house has instructed congressional democrats to not negotiate with republicans, at least in the past cup of -- couple of days in the belief that the publi

he is referring to the quotation that came out about what harry reid said in private about barack obama toç johnan, why don't you take that? -- john heilemann, why don't you take that? guest: in our author's note,ç we mentioned that we conducted the interview on deep background, basically what howie writes in the peace. it is not complete, the description of all the conversations we had with our sources to talk any great detail about how the interview we did conduct would be used in -- we talked in great detail about how the interview that he would conduct would be used in the book. i can say that there is no case in which the way that we explained we are going to that in the and we did not live up to that agreement with any source we talked to in the book. it is important that people understand that a deep background, as many people have written, is not a concept that is etched in stone. every journalist has rules of the road. host: you don't think that concrete come on-the-record -- guest: with new ones, you can describe different things. we did not violate the agreement with anybody that we

reid insists that is not going to happen. >> it is very difficult to get republicans onboard much of anything. even, even, you know, senator johnr of campaign finance reform, for crying out loud, he is in a tough primary in arizona, he is keeping his mouth shut. so, there have changes made. because the notion that freedom to speak is totally freedom to spend, which is really what the supreme court is saying, i think it is dangerous. >> this is happening on financial reform, health care. they are saying that we don't need the republicans. we're going to act like we need them, but they are not invited to meetings. >> john, i dope think that is fair. from the beginning the president was speaking to the republican caucus. i said while you guys are pushing it, but the notion that we are not listen to republicans is not right. when mitch comes in and says, our objective is to kill the legislation that president barack obama is going to put forth. >> on the latest package, there is $50,000 in there for more bailout money. the republicans believe that the american people are tired of paying for bill outs. >> the president said and othe

harry reid, not a single health care event planned back home in nevada for this whole recess. it means that the democrats don't want to be talking about it you've got john mccain campaigning up and down arizona on health care. republican members of congress campaigning all across the country, talking about health care. democrats who just passed this bill with some fanfare, none of them are talking about it. >> the fact that harry reid is not talking about it is telling. >> what you guys got in your barrel? you got anything to sell? or just running against this guy, just p.o. against obama every day. you got anything to sell? >> of course. >> what are your bills? >> we talked about republican proposals for health care reform that we think would lower the costs of care and not do it in a way that blows up the budget and cost jobs. but, look, we're the party out of power. so this is a referendum on barack obama and what the democrats have done. you are absolutely right that we have to have some kind of positive message. you've been around since the '60s, i've never heard of a republican health bill. >> and there never will be one. >> medicare, medicaid, th

john harwood joins us now. what happened in the democrats scheduled this vote knowing well it would fail. now what happens? >> part of the point was to get that statement from harry reid and the headlines we see in the newspapers this morning, republicans block wall street reform. democrats love that. that's why they're not eager to make compromises. here's why i think there is going to be a deal. there will be another test vote. i don't know if the first next test vote will succeed or the one after that or the one after that. but the reason is, there are three big issues outstanding. one is how you pay for this winddown fund. do you raise the money before or after a firm fails. do you make big banks give up their derivatives deck, some of these complicated instruments kelly o'donnell was talking about and the senate bill would require them to give up those debts, sell off those items. the third thing is consumer protection. on two of those, the administration agrees with industry and republicans. they're not in favor that have senate provision on districts desk. they're not in favor of advance funding. there's certainly the groundwork for a deal there. >> i know aide

reid behind. but again, on the republican side of the aisle, more and more republicans, including congressman heller, calling for senator john ensign to resign because of the ethics inquiry into his marital infidelity the and some of the payoffs by his family that even senator ensign has quermed are accurate. we're going to take a short break on this friday morning. when we come back, we're going to turn our attention to the economy and also to mine safety, as the "washington journal" continues. back in a moment. >> in advance of the upcoming nuclear security stomachity, anita them son, director of the international atomic energy agency, will discuss the agency's program, which includes supporting better border controls and monitoring the trafficking of nuclear and radioactive materials. that's live on c-span at 10:00 a.m. eastern. and the southern republican leadership conference is meeting in new orleans, and our live coverage of the oovept continues today with appearances by louisiana governor bobby jindal, texas governor rec perry, and former vice-presidential candidate sarah palin. you can watch it here on c-span beginn

reid is in trouble at home and needs to appeal to his latino base. >> i don't know why it happened. but i don't think it was right. in other words, what johnerry and i and others -- and i hope the white house will get involved in this -- has to do in the next couple of days was to bring about a meeting of minds between two people. harry reid and lindsey graham so lindsey feels a separation from immigration reform which will enable him to come back and be where he wants to be for this energy npd climate change bill. >> you know how to do the math. do you think there is any chance in this tough election year of passing immigration reform? >> i happen to be for immigration reform -- >> that's a separate question. >> yes, i'm going to say that as a precondition to say that i am, therefore, disappointed to tell you that i don't see a reasonable prospect of passing immigration reform this year. and i think that one of the reasons for it is that the only republican who's come forward to say he'll work with democrats in immigration reform, lindsey graham, says, i won't do it this year. >> a lot of democrats don't want to take this tough vote in th

reid is in a tough job to keep his seat this year. we will talk to a candidate who has the tea party endorsement, right after this break. >> shannon: arizona senator john away from that nickname a bit. on "fox news sunday," chris wallace pressed the senator on the issue who says he prefers to be called a great american instead. >> how can you say i never considered myself a maverick? >> when i was fighting against my own president, whether we needed more troops in iraq or whether spending was completely out of control. then i was a maverick. now, that i'm fighting against this spending administration and this out of control and reckless healthcare plan, then i'm a partisan. i have been a called a lot of things and i will be glad to call anything but i'm a fighter and that is what i am. and i fought against my own administration when i wanted to when i thought it was necessary to do so and i will fight against this administration when i think it is necessary to do so. >> if i may press it, it isn't what other people are saying about you, with it is what you are saying about yourself. >> u said i never considered myself a maverick. >> i'm saying i have c

reid and senate minority leader mitch mcconnell represent the top sponsors of the earmarks for private companies. your march 4 -- mcconnell directed $21.4 million in year marks, according to the analysis. john murtha was top on the list as 63 million, daniel in a way of hawaii next. jerry lewis of california, $40.4 million. jim moran of virginia, $26 million. thad cochrane, $24.8 million. judd greg on the budget committee, $22.3 million. dave obey of wisconsin, $21.5 million. mitch mcconnell, $21.4 million. next is a call from danville, ohio. jim, republican, you are on the air. caller: my first comment is i think you need another phone number up there to call in. you need a phone number for people who are none of the above. because i do not think there is much difference in either none of the parties except who gives them the money. host: how come you are not on the independent line either? caller: i am none of the above. i am none of the above. the tea party was at the ports. i do not see none of them at the ports to shut down the ports, shut down the imports and bring the jobs back to this country. host: next is ryland, mary, on our democrats line. -- is rhode island, mary come on our de

i thank majority leader harry reid for allowing a historic first time vote for the bill where it passed in the senate. i thank chairman john conyers for his unyielding support of d.c. voting rights. i thank former representative tom davis, whose idea it was to pair democratic d.c. with republican utah, the most perfect example of a bipartisan bill ever to hit this floor where each side benefits equally. i thank d.c. voters, and the coalition they put together. who were steadfast and creative throughout this process. the senate for the first time in fact enacted the bill but it had a gun amendment that took down the district's gun safety laws. yet the district's gun safety laws have been held to be constitutional now by the courts. nevertheless, when the bill came here to the house, i sought a clean vote, almost got it, thank the house for being willing to put the d.c. house voting rights bill on a must-pass bill. the senate did not agree. so i spent months trying to negotiate a compromise that would have at least have left at least some of d.c.'s gun laws intact. but finally and reluctantly agreed to the same amendment tha